Questions on haze, MDA’s new rules will dominate Parliament sitting on Monday

SINGAPORE — The haze and the new regulations introduced by the Media Development Authority (MDA) for online news websites will dominate the next sitting of Parliament on Monday, with 30 questions being filed by Members of Parliament (MPs) on the haze issue alone.

The questions seek clarification on various issues, including the roles of legislation and ASEAN in tackling the annual environmental problem in the region. MPs also want to know the impact of the haze on health and will ask about contingency plans and public communications when it occurs.

As for the MDA licensing regime, MPs have floated concerns regarding the rationale and impact of the regulations.

Sengkang West MP Lam Pin Min has tabled a question on whether there is an emergency response plan to handle the possible emergence of a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak in Singapore and its impact on the stockpile of N95 masks.

Mr Lam will also ask the Ministry of Health on precautionary measures for Singaporeans performing the haj in Mecca.

MPs also have questions on the 133 traders who had attempted to influence Singapore’s financial benchmarks, with Ms Foo Mee Har (West Coast GRC) asking about the impact on local interest rates and foreign exchange benchmarks resulting from the activities of the traders.

Nominated MP Eugene Tan has asked if Singapore’s criminal and banking laws are comprehensive enough to prosecute the 133 traders.